Acknowledgement notification based on orientation state of a device

ABSTRACT

One embodiment provides an information handling device, including: a first surface comprising a primary display; a second surface, opposite from the first surface, comprising a retractable cover; a hinge joint connecting a first portion of the information handling device to a second portion of the information handling device, wherein the information handling device is foldable along the hinge joint; and a slide mechanism attached to the first portion on the second surface; wherein one end of the retractable cover is attached to the second portion on the second surface and wherein another end of the retractable cover is attached to the slide mechanism; wherein the slide mechanism is dynamically movable along the second surface between the hinge joint and a terminal end of the first portion during transition of the information handling device between an open state and a closed state. Other aspects are described and claimed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/389,978, filed on Apr. 21, 2019 and entitled“COMMAND DETECTION NOTIFICATION ON AUXILIARY DISPLAY,” the contents ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Information handling devices (“devices), for example laptop computers,hybrid devices, other clamshell or foldable devices, and the like, maybe capable of receiving voice command input from a user, processing theinput, and thereafter performing a function based on the input. A usermay be apprised of the recognition of their command input by theinherent performance of the desired function and/or by a visualnotification generally displayed on a primary displace of a device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect provides an information handling device,including: a first surface comprising a primary display; a secondsurface, opposite from the first surface, comprising a retractablecover; a hinge joint connecting a first portion of the informationhandling device to a second portion of the information handling device,wherein the information handling device is foldable along the hingejoint; and a slide mechanism attached to the first portion on the secondsurface; wherein one end of the retractable cover is attached to thesecond portion on the second surface and wherein another end of theretractable cover is attached to the slide mechanism; wherein the slidemechanism is dynamically movable along the second surface between thehinge joint and a terminal end of the first portion during transition ofthe information handling device between an open state and a closedstate.

Another aspect provides a retractable cover, including: a slidemechanism integrated into one end of the retractable cover, wherein theslide mechanism is attachable to a surface of an information handlingdevice; and an attachment portion, connectable to the surface of theinformation handling device, positioned on an opposite end of theretractable cover from the slide mechanism.

A further aspect provides a method for revealing an auxiliary display ofa foldable device, including: adjusting the foldable device from an openstate to a closed state; wherein a cover positioned on a back surface ofthe foldable device dynamically retracts, based on the adjusting, toreveal a section of the back surface; wherein the auxiliary display islocated at the section.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is notintended to be in any way limiting.

For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other andfurther features and advantages thereof, reference is made to thefollowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of information handling device circuitry.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of information handling devicecircuitry.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example method of providing an acknowledgementnotification to a user when a device is in a closed state.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of a device comprising anauxiliary display.

FIG. 5 (A-B) illustrates an example embodiment of a dynamically movableintegrated device cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, asgenerally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations inaddition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following moredetailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in thefigures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, asclaimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in oneembodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided to give athorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant artwill recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practicedwithout one or more of the specific details, or with other methods,components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well knownstructures, materials, or operations are not shown or described indetail to avoid obfuscation.

Users frequently communicate with their devices using voice input. Moreparticularly, a user may provide voice input commands to an intelligentdigital assistant resident on the device's system. Responsive todetecting the command, the digital assistant may process the command andthereafter instruct the device to perform a corresponding function.Common examples of voice input commands include application activationcommands, note recording commands, information query commands, and thelike.

Conventionally, digital assistants may either be always-on (i.e., activeand capable of receiving and processing voice input commands even whenother functions of the device are deactivated) or, alternatively, mayonly be activate when certain requirements are met (e.g., a device powerlevel is above a predetermined threshold, a primary display of a deviceis active, etc.). In situations where a device is in a closed state(e.g., when a laptop cover is folded down against the base of thelaptop, etc.), it may be difficult for a user to ascertain whether thedigital assistant on the device is active and/or listening for voiceinput commands. If a user provides command input to an inactive device,they may become frustrated that their command input was not processed.

Accordingly, an embodiment provides a method for outputting anotification that acknowledges detection of a voice command input when adevice is in a closed state. In an embodiment, a voice input commandinput may be detected. An embodiment may then determine whether thedevice is an open state or a closed state and, responsive to determiningthat the device is in the closed state, an embodiment may display anotification acknowledging receipt/detection of the voice command input.In an embodiment, the notification may be displayed on an auxiliarydisplay of the device (e.g., positioned on a portion of the device'sA-cover, etc.). Such a method may inform a user whether or not theirvoice inputs are being detected and processed when their device is in aclosed state.

The illustrated example embodiments will be best understood by referenceto the figures. The following description is intended only by way ofexample, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.

While various other circuits, circuitry or components may be utilized ininformation handling devices, with regard to smart phone and/or tabletcircuitry 100, an example illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a system on achip design found for example in tablet or other mobile computingplatforms. Software and processor(s) are combined in a single chip 110.Processors comprise internal arithmetic units, registers, cache memory,busses, I/O ports, etc., as is well known in the art. Internal bussesand the like depend on different vendors, but essentially all theperipheral devices (120) may attach to a single chip 110. The circuitry100 combines the processor, memory control, and I/O controller hub allinto a single chip 110. Also, systems 100 of this type do not typicallyuse SATA or PCI or LPC. Common interfaces, for example, include SDIO andI2C.

There are power management chip(s) 130, e.g., a battery management unit,BMU, which manage power as supplied, for example, via a rechargeablebattery 140, which may be recharged by a connection to a power source(not shown). In at least one design, a single chip, such as 110, is usedto supply BIOS like functionality and DRAM memory.

System 100 typically includes one or more of a WWAN transceiver 150 anda WLAN transceiver 160 for connecting to various networks, such astelecommunications networks and wireless Internet devices, e.g., accesspoints. Additionally, devices 120 are commonly included, e.g., anauxiliary display, an input device such as a stylus, image sensor suchas a camera, audio capture device such as a microphone, externalkeyboard, other input devices, etc. System 100 often includes one ormore touch screens 170 for data input and display/rendering. System 100also typically includes various memory devices, for example flash memory180 and SDRAM 190.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of another example of informationhandling device circuits, circuitry or components. The example depictedin FIG. 2 may correspond to computing systems such as the THINKPADand/or YOGA series of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. ofMorrisville, N.C., or other devices. As is apparent from the descriptionherein, embodiments may include other features or only some of thefeatures of the example illustrated in FIG. 2 .

The example of FIG. 2 includes a so-called chipset 210 (a group ofintegrated circuits, or chips, that work together, chipsets) with anarchitecture that may vary depending on manufacturer (for example,INTEL, AMD, ARM, etc.). INTEL is a registered trademark of IntelCorporation in the United States and other countries. AMD is aregistered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. in the UnitedStates and other countries. ARM is an unregistered trademark of ARMHoldings plc in the United States and other countries. The architectureof the chipset 210 includes a core and memory control group 220 and anI/O controller hub 250 that exchanges information (for example, data,signals, commands, etc.) via a direct management interface (DMI) 242 ora link controller 244. In FIG. 2 , the DMI 242 is a chip-to-chipinterface (sometimes referred to as being a link between a “northbridge”and a “southbridge”). The core and memory control group 220 include oneor more processors 222 (for example, single or multi-core) and a memorycontroller hub 226 that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB)224; noting that components of the group 220 may be integrated in a chipthat supplants the conventional “northbridge” style architecture. One ormore processors 222 comprise internal arithmetic units, registers, cachememory, busses, I/O ports, etc., as is well known in the art.

In FIG. 2 , the memory controller hub 226 interfaces with memory 240(for example, to provide support for a type of RAM that may be referredto as “system memory” or “memory”). The memory controller hub 226further includes a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface232 for a display device 292 (for example, a CRT, a flat panel, touchscreen, etc.). A block 238 includes some technologies that may besupported via the LVDS interface 232 (for example, serial digital video,HDMI/DVI, display port). The memory controller hub 226 also includes aPCI-express interface (PCI-E) 234 that may support discrete graphics236.

In FIG. 2 , the I/O hub controller 250 includes a SATA interface 251(for example, for HDDs, SDDs, etc., 280), a PCI-E interface 252 (forexample, for wireless connections 282), a USB interface 253 (forexample, for devices 284 such as a digitizer, keyboard, mice, cameras,phones, microphones, storage, other connected devices, etc.), a networkinterface 254 (for example, LAN), a GPIO interface 255, a LPC interface270 (for ASICs 271, a TPM 272, a super I/O 273, a firmware hub 274, BIOSsupport 275 as well as various types of memory 276 such as ROM 277,Flash 278, and NVRAM 279), a power management interface 261, a clockgenerator interface 262, an audio interface 263 (for example, forspeakers 294), a TCO interface 264, a system management bus interface265, and SPI Flash 266, which can include BIOS 268 and boot code 290.The I/O hub controller 250 may include gigabit Ethernet support.

The system, upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code 290for the BIOS 268, as stored within the SPI Flash 266, and thereafterprocesses data under the control of one or more operating systems andapplication software (for example, stored in system memory 240). Anoperating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations andaccessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS 268. Asdescribed herein, a device may include fewer or more features than shownin the system of FIG. 2 .

Information handling device circuitry, as for example outlined in FIG. 1or FIG. 2 , may be used in devices such as laptops, hybrid devices,other foldable devices, and/or other electronic devices that maycomprise an auxiliary display on an outer cover of the device. Forexample, the circuitry outlined in FIG. 1 may be implemented in a hybridtablet device, whereas the circuitry outlined in FIG. 2 may beimplemented in a laptop.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , an embodiment may display an acknowledgementnotification of a user command input on an auxiliary display of adevice. At 301, an embodiment may detect a user input command. Forsimplicity purposes, the remainder of the disclosure will be describedwith reference to a voice input command. However, it is important tonote that this designation is not limiting and that other input commandsmay also be provided to and detected by the device (e.g., a device maydetect a gesture input command using one or more camera sensors, etc.).In an embodiment, the voice input command may be detected by one or moreaudio capture devices (e.g., microphones, etc.) integrally oroperatively coupled to the device.

At 302, an embodiment may determine whether the orientation state of thedevice is associated with a closed state or an open state. In thecontext of this application, a device in a closed state may refer to adevice that is folded so that a primary display portion of the device issituated substantially parallel with respect to a base portion of thedevice. Conversely, in the context of this application, a device in anopen state may refer to a device where an angle between the primarydisplay portion and the base portion exceeds a predetermined thresholdangle (e.g., 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, etc.). In anembodiment, the determination may be facilitated by using one or moresensors integrally or operatively coupled to the device (e.g., camerasensors, gyroscopes, etc.).

Responsive to determining, at 302, that the orientation state of adevice is associated with an open state, an embodiment may, at 303,provide an acknowledgement notification to a user on a primary displayof the device. Conversely, responsive to determining, at 302, that theorientation state of the device is associated with a closed state, anembodiment may, at 304, provide an acknowledgement notification to auser on an auxiliary display of the device.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , an example embodiment of a top view of adevice 40 in a closed state comprising an auxiliary display 41 isprovided. In this illustration, the auxiliary display 41 is positionedat a corner of an A-cover 42 of the device 40. The auxiliary display 41may comprise a glass panel with one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs)(not illustrated) mounted behind the glass panel. The LEDs may beutilized to provide a visual notification 43 to a user, as furtherdescribed later in this application. The device may also comprise adynamically movable integrated cover 44 (aspects of which are describedbelow) having an integrated stylus holder 44 configured to supportstorage of a stylus 46. It is important to note that the positioning andsize of the auxiliary display 41 is not limiting and otherconfigurations may have a larger or smaller auxiliary display positionedon another portion of the A-cover 42 of the device.

Referring now to FIG. 5 (A-B), an example embodiment of a dynamicallymovable integrated cover is provided. In FIG. 5A, a device 50 in acompletely open state (i.e., 180 degrees between the base portion andthe primary display portion) is illustrated. In this orientation, theintegrated cover 51 spans the length of the device 50, therebyeffectively covering all of the back portions of the device 50. Thedevice 50 may also comprise a hinge joint 52 that facilitatesbending/folding of the device. When the device 50 is folded to a closedstate, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, a slide mechanism 53 embedded insideof the integrated cover 51 may work to slide a portion of an end of theintegrated cover 51 down towards the hinge joint 52. This movement ofthe integrated cover 51 may reveal an auxiliary display 54 positioned onan A-cover of the device 50.

In an embodiment, the acknowledgement notification may be of aparticular type. For example, the acknowledgement notification may be atextual notification (e.g., with a confirmation phrase such as“listening”, etc.), an image notification (e.g., a graphic indicatingthat the voice input command is being detected, etc.), an animationnotification (e.g., a moving soundwave pattern as illustrated at 43 inFIG. 4 , etc.), a stagnant or blinking light, and the like. In anembodiment, the type of acknowledgement notification used may not onlybe based on the display parameters of the auxiliary display, but mayalso be based on one or more predetermined user settings. For instance,in an embodiment the selection of the notification type may be based onthe identification of the input-providing user. For example, User A maydesire to see text-based acknowledgement notifications whereas User Bmay desire to see animation-based acknowledgement notifications.Additionally or alternatively, in another embodiment, the notificationtype may be predicated on one or more other factors such as: the type ofinput command being provided (query input command vs. note-takingcommand, etc.), a user's contextual environment (e.g., a brighternotification type in bright environments vs. a dimmer notification typein dark environments, etc.), and the like.

In an embodiment, the acknowledgement notification may only be displayedduring a time period when the user is providing the input command to thedevice. In this embodiment, when the user finishes providing the inputcommand, the acknowledgement notification may be removed from theauxiliary display. Alternatively, in another embodiment, theacknowledgement notification may remain displayed on the auxiliarydisplay for a predetermined amount of time after the input command wasprovided (e.g., 3 seconds, 5 seconds, etc.).

In an embodiment, a confirmation notification, different from theacknowledgement notification, may be provided on the auxiliary displaywhen a function associated with the command input is executed by thesystem. This confirmation notification may be provided using any of thenotification types described above. Similarly, in another embodiment, arejection notification may be provided on the auxiliary display when afunction associated with the command input was unable to be executed bythe system. In this embodiment, the rejection notification may comprisean explanation (e.g., in the form of a graphic, text, animation, acombination thereof, etc.) regarding why the function associated withthe command input could not be executed by the system of the device.

The various embodiments described herein thus represent a technicalimprovement to conventional methods for informing a user that theircommand input has been received and/or detected. Using the techniquesdescribed herein, an embodiment may detect command input provided by auser (e.g., voice command input, etc.). An embodiment may then determinewhether an orientation state of a device is associated with a closedstate or an open state. Responsive to determining that the orientationstate of the device is associated with the closed state, an embodimentmay display a notification acknowledging receipt of the command input onan auxiliary display of the device. Such a method may allow a user to beapprised of whether or not any command input provided by the user wasbeing registered by the device.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, various aspects may beembodied as a system, method or device program product. Accordingly,aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or anembodiment including software that may all generally be referred toherein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects maytake the form of a device program product embodied in one or more devicereadable medium(s) having device readable program code embodiedtherewith.

It should be noted that the various functions described herein may beimplemented using instructions stored on a device readable storagemedium such as a non-signal storage device that are executed by aprocessor. A storage device may be, for example, a system, apparatus, ordevice (e.g., an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device) or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a storagedevice/medium include the following: a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a storagedevice is not a signal and “non-transitory” includes all media exceptsignal media.

Program code embodied on a storage medium may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, et cetera, or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

Program code for carrying out operations may be written in anycombination of one or more programming languages. The program code mayexecute entirely on a single device, partly on a single device, as astand-alone software package, partly on single device and partly onanother device, or entirely on the other device. In some cases, thedevices may be connected through any type of connection or network,including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), orthe connection may be made through other devices (for example, throughthe Internet using an Internet Service Provider), through wirelessconnections, e.g., near-field communication, or through a hard wireconnection, such as over a USB connection.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the figures,which illustrate example methods, devices and program products accordingto various example embodiments. It will be understood that the actionsand functionality may be implemented at least in part by programinstructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processorof a device, a special purpose information handling device, or otherprogrammable data processing device to produce a machine, such that theinstructions, which execute via a processor of the device implement thefunctions/acts specified.

It is worth noting that while specific blocks are used in the figures,and a particular ordering of blocks has been illustrated, these arenon-limiting examples. In certain contexts, two or more blocks may becombined, a block may be split into two or more blocks, or certainblocks may be re-ordered or re-organized as appropriate, as the explicitillustrated examples are used only for descriptive purposes and are notto be construed as limiting.

As used herein, the singular “a” and “an” may be construed as includingthe plural “one or more” unless clearly indicated otherwise.

This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. The example embodiments were chosen and described in orderto explain principles and practical application, and to enable others ofordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated.

Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been describedherein with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to beunderstood that this description is not limiting and that various otherchanges and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in theart without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling device, comprising: afirst surface comprising a primary display; a second surface, oppositefrom the first surface, comprising a retractable cover; a hinge jointconnecting a first portion of the information handling device to asecond portion of the information handling device, wherein theinformation handling device is foldable along the hinge joint; and aslide mechanism attached to the first portion on the second surface;wherein one end of the retractable cover is attached to the secondportion on the second surface and wherein another end of the retractablecover is attached to the slide mechanism; wherein the slide mechanism isdynamically movable along the second surface between the hinge joint anda terminal end of the first portion during transition of the informationhandling device between an open state and a closed state.
 2. Theinformation handling device of claim 1, wherein the slide mechanism ispositioned at the terminal end of the first portion when the informationhandling device is in an open state and wherein the slide mechanism ispositioned near the hinge joint in the closed state.
 3. The informationhandling device of claim 2, wherein the retractable cover is positionedacross an entirety of the second surface when the information handlingdevice is in the open state.
 4. The information handling device of claim2, wherein a section of the second surface is not obscured by theretractable cover when the information handling device is in the closedstate.
 5. The information handling device of claim 4, further comprisingan auxiliary display positioned on the second surface at the section. 6.The information handling device of claim 5, wherein the auxiliarydisplay comprises a glass panel and one or more light emitting diodes(LEDs).
 7. The information handling device of claim 5, wherein theauxiliary display is configured to display a notification acknowledgingreceipt of user input.
 8. The information handling device of claim 1,wherein the retractable cover comprises an integrated stylus holderconfigured to secure a stylus to the retractable cover.
 9. Theinformation handling device of claim 8, wherein the integrated stylusholder is positioned at an edge location of the retractable cover. 10.The information handling device of claim 1, wherein the informationhandling device is of a type selected from the group consisting of: alaptop computer, a smart phone, and a hybrid device.
 11. A method forrevealing an auxiliary display of a foldable device, comprising:adjusting the foldable device from an open state to a closed state;wherein a cover positioned on a back surface of the foldable devicedynamically retracts, based on the adjusting, to reveal a section of theback surface; wherein the auxiliary display is located at the section.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting the foldable devicecomprises folding the foldable device around a hinge joint of thefoldable device.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hinge jointconnects a first portion of the foldable device to a second portion ofthe foldable device.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the covercomprises an integrated slide mechanism attached to the back surface ofthe foldable device and that is configured to dynamically move along theback surface in response to the adjusting.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein the cover comprises an integrated stylus holder configured tosecure a stylus to the cover.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein theintegrated stylus holder is positioned at an edge location of the cover.17. The method of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary display comprises aglass panel and one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).
 18. The methodof claim 11, wherein the auxiliary display is configured to display anotification acknowledging receipt of user input.
 19. A retractablecover, comprising: a slide mechanism integrated into one end of theretractable cover, wherein the slide mechanism is attachable to asurface of an information handling device; and an attachment portion,connectable to the surface of the information handling device,positioned on an opposite end of the retractable cover from the slidemechanism.
 20. The retractable cover of claim 19, wherein theretractable cover comprises an integrated stylus holder configured tosecure a stylus to the retractable cover.